Legal Resources
Essential legal guides and templates for women entrepreneurs in Calgary.
Legal Guides
Comprehensive guides to help you navigate legal aspects of your business.
Learn about the different business structures available in Canada (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) and how to choose the right one for your business.
Learn how to protect your business's intellectual property through trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets in Canada.
Learn about employment laws in Alberta, including hiring, termination, employment standards, and human rights considerations.
Legal Templates
Essential legal templates for your business.
A comprehensive client agreement template that you can customize for your business, covering scope of work, payment terms, intellectual property, confidentiality, and more.
What's Included:
- Scope of work definition
- Payment terms and conditions
- Intellectual property rights
- Confidentiality clauses
- Termination conditions
- Liability limitations
- Dispute resolution
A customizable non-disclosure agreement template to protect your business's confidential information when sharing it with employees, contractors, potential partners, or investors.
What's Included:
- Definition of confidential information
- Obligations of the receiving party
- Exclusions from confidentiality
- Term and termination
- Remedies for breach
- Return of confidential information
Legal Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs
Key legal considerations for starting and running a business in Canada.
1. Choose and Register Your Business Structure
Decide on the appropriate business structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) and register your business with the appropriate government agencies in Alberta.
2. Register Your Business Name
Conduct a name search and register your business name with the Alberta Corporate Registry. If you're operating under your own name, this step may not be necessary.
3. Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits
Research and obtain all necessary business licenses and permits required by federal, provincial, and municipal governments for your specific type of business in Calgary.
4. Register for Tax Accounts
Register for a Business Number (BN) with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and set up accounts for GST/HST, payroll, and corporate income tax as applicable.
5. Protect Your Intellectual Property
Identify and protect your intellectual property through trademarks, copyrights, patents, or trade secrets as appropriate for your business. Consider consulting with an intellectual property lawyer.
6. Create Essential Legal Documents
Develop essential legal documents for your business, such as client agreements, terms of service, privacy policies, employment contracts, and non-disclosure agreements.
7. Understand Employment Laws
Familiarize yourself with Alberta's employment standards, including minimum wage, overtime, vacation pay, statutory holidays, and termination requirements if you plan to hire employees.
8. Obtain Business Insurance
Research and obtain appropriate business insurance, such as general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, property insurance, and business interruption insurance.